Skip Bayless Reveals the Real Reason for Jets Passing up Colin Kaepernick as Aaron Rodgers’ Successor

Colin Kaepernick’s name resurfaces in NFL circles. After Aaron Rodgers‘ season-ending Achilles injury, the New York Jets found themselves at a crossroads. A phone call reportedly came from Kaepernick’s camp, seeking an opportunity to fill the void left by Rodgers. However, the Jets boldly asserted their unwavering faith in rookie Zach Wilson.

Yet, as Undisputed’s seasoned host, Skip Bayless, reveals, there’s a hidden narrative at play. In a recent episode of the popular sports show, the cast delved into the possibility of Kaepernick donning the Jets’ jersey. Most notably, Bayless dissected why the Jets ultimately passed on him, an angle largely overlooked.

Colin Kaepernick’s ‘mission-impossible’ NFL return

During the ‘Undisputed’ broadcast, Bayless engaged in a spirited discussion with Keyshawn Johnson, unraveling the Jets’ decision-making process. Bayless began by harking back to Kaepernick’s extraordinary showdown with Rodgers. “Against Green Bay at home,” he exclaimed, “he went crazy. Remember, he ran for 181 yards in that game and threw for 263. Then he goes and beats Aaron [Rodgers] at Aaron in the sub-freezing frozen tundra temperatures, and outplayed Aaron in that game (in the 2012 playoffs).” Including four touchdowns scored.

Bayless didn’t stop there; he pointed out, that the trajectory suddenly plummeted when Kaepernick sued the league for collusion, “Then it all fell apart around him because he wound up suing this league for collusion, and it got settled.” In Bayless’s eyes, this legal battle irreparably damaged Kaepernick’s relationship with the NFL’s proud ownership.

“Once you sue this group of owners, ‘these are proud men’, and once you step across that line, it’s just hard to step back because there’s, you can call it white bald or black bald or whatever you want to call it, but that’s what happened.” Skip Bayless stated. “And once you do that kind of damage to the league as far as they’re concerned with their image, it’s hard to come back from that.”

“Do I think the Jets are going to take a shot with him?” Bayless pondered. “I don’t.” On his closing argument, Bayless concluded, “To your [Keyshawn Johnson] point, do I think he could still play right here, right now, if he got the OTAs and the preseason games? Absolutely, I do.” Bayless, known for his unfiltered analysis, offered a candid response to reports of Kaepernick’s agent knocking on the Jets’ door following Rodgers’ devastating injury in Week 1.

Ex-President Barack Obama supported Kaepernick

Josina Anderson’s early Wednesday morning report shattered any lingering hopes of Kaepernick supporters, stating, “The Jets are not pursuing Colin Kaepernick to address their immediate need for QB depth.” The window of opportunity for Kaepernick appeared ever so narrow, especially given his extended absence from the league.

Rewinding the fact that Kaepernick’s journey has been rife with controversy, most notably his decision to kneel during the national anthem, a stance he first took on September 1, 2016, during a preseason game between the 49ers and the San Diego Chargers. Although he initially sat during the anthem in two preseason games, it was the act of kneeling that thrust him into the national spotlight.

Kaepernick’s intent was clear: to protest racial injustice and inequality, not to disparage the military, “The media painted this as I’m anti-American, anti-men and women of the military, and that’s not the case at all,” as often portrayed by the media, he said. Then-President Barack Obama defended Kaepernick’s protest, affirming that he was only using his constitutional right to make a point.

READ MORE – Years After Kneeling, Colin Kaepernick Almost Ready to Host the American Flag to Replace Injured Rodgers

However, as events unfolded, Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in March 2017, embarking on a path that led him into the realm of free agency.

In the wake of Rodgers’ injury, Kaepernick’s journey might have taken a different turn. Let us know your perspective in the comments box below!

WATCH THIS STORY – 18 Months After the “Know Your Rights” Autopsy Initiative, Colin Kaepernick Pledges Support for 28,000 Unprivileged Americans.